Cymru Alliance Previews: Wingmakers flying high after perfect start

Cymru Alliance Previews: Wingmakers flying high after perfect start

ANDY THOMAS insists that Airbus have ‘found the right balance’ after their perfect start to the season.

A convincing 3-1 victory at Llanrhaeadr in midweek made it three wins from three for the Wingmakers, who host Ruthin Town on Saturday.

Assistant manager Thomas believes the Flintshire club have become ‘smarter’ this season and are now adapting to the rigours of the Cymru Alliance.

He said: “Last season we would have slipped up in away games like the one in Llanrhaeadr, but we’re finding a way to win with some smarter performances, I think. “We’ve brought in new personnel over the summer and have shown excellent fitness levels in the early stages of this season.

“Players like Asa Hamilton who caused us a lot of problems when playing against him last season has come in and showed that he’s a real leader on the pitch and he’s got that hunger to be the league’s top scorer this season.

“Right across the pitch we’re looking strong right now and expect a big test from Ruthin tomorrow.

“They’ve looked very good early on and we know they’re not a side we can take lightly.”

With no new injury worries, Airbus could name an unchanged side tomorrow.

Unbeaten Flint Town United will once again look to in-form Mark Cadwallader to fire them to success against Porthmadog on Saturday. Now in his third season with the club, Cadwallader has excelled so far this term with a brace in the 2-2 draw with Holywell taking his tally to five goals in three games.

And manager Niall McGuinness has backed the prolific attacker to sustain his impressive form for the Silkmen.

He said: “Mark’s had a terrific start to the season, scoring in every game so far. When I came to the club I knew what he was capable of and I felt that with a good pre-season behind him, he could be a big player for us.

“He showed his quality in the Holywell game where he’s scored twice on a night when we weren’t too clinical with the chances we created.We’ll need to be much better in front of goal against a Porthmadog side who’ll be flying after beating Bangor.

“I watched that game and I was impressed with them. They’ve added quality in the summer to replace the players they lost to Caernarfon and I expect them to challenge at the top end this season.

“We’re in good shape in terms of our squad now and wewant to keep our unbeaten run going.” for as long as possible.”

Captain Richie Foulkes returns from suspension for Flint.

Gareth Sudlow says the character shown by his Holywell Town players in their midweek derby draw at Flint will be a key asset this season.

Second half goals from Damian Ketley and Matty Kendrick earned a 2-2 draw for the visitors, who had trailed 1-0 at the interval.

The result earned the Wellmen their first point this term, with Sudlow’s side now braced for the visit of Prestatyn on Saturday.

He said: “After giving a scrappy goal away in the first half, I just wanted us to stay in the game because Flint put us under a lot of pressure and we could have been further behind.

“But we were much better in the second half after changing things around and playing much higher up the pitch. We were the better side as the game wore on and could have gone on to win the game.

“Showing that character to drag ourselves back into the game was the most pleasing aspect for me.

“We’ll need to produce that second half performance across 90 minutes against Prestatyn. I saw their game against Rhyl, which was pretty feisty at times.

“They’ve assembled quite a different looking squad compared to last season, but there’s still a lot of quality there. We know what to expect and we’re targeting our first three points of the season tomorrow.”

John Jones and Matty Harvey return to the Wellmen squad, while midweek goalscorer Kendrick is unavailable.

Buckley Town host Conwy Borough looking to build some early season momentum, according to Dan Moore.

The Town manager was left thrilled with his side's convincing victory over Gresford, admitting the win was good for his own 'mental health'.

But Moore expects a stern test from newly-promoted rivals Borough, and has urged his side not to revel in their midweek victory for too long.

"It was a great result for us, but there's no time to spend too much time thinking about it" he said.

"We enjoyed it obviously, but this weekend's game is going to be as tough or even tougher for us.

"I'm expecting a tight game and we'll have to set up just as we did against Gresford.

"Having Joe (Makuruk) back in goal for us is a massive positive. He dominates his area and claims almost every aerial ball and that gives our defenders a lot of confidence during games.

"It's going to be a battle, but it's a great chance for us to start building after getting the first points on the board."

Defender Rob Jones is the only absentee from Town's squad, with Moore set to field an unchanged side from the Gresford game.

Steve Halliwell has urged his Gresford Athletic side to react to their early 'wake-up call' this season.

After successive victories in their opening games, the Colliers were beaten 3-0 at Buckley Town in midweek with Halliwell admitting his players were second best.

The Gresford boss is adamant that one defeat will not derail a positive start this season, but expects a reaction in Friday night's clash at Guilsfield.

He said: "It was a big wake-up call to lose in the way we did. It felt as though we arrived at Buckley and some of the players felt we were going to turn them over.

"What the performance and the result showed is that maybe we're not quite as good as we think we are. Regardless of the result though we're not going to be too negative right now.

"The games come thick and fast and Friday night is a chance to make things right. They've had a poor start and a couple of bad results already so they'll be looking to put that right at home, I'm sure."

Halliwell is likely to be without injured forward Jake Eyre, while Aeron Edwards and Nathan Williams are also unavailable.

Friday night's other games see pacesetters Bangor City head to Denbigh Town while Rhyl host Penrhyncoch.

Holyhead Hotspur make the long trip to Llanrhaeadr on Saturday on the back of three successive defeats.

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